poison gas

American  

noun

1. any of various toxic gases, especially those used in chemical warfare to kill or incapacitate on inhalation or contact, as phosgene, chlorine, etc.

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poison gas British  

noun

1. a gaseous substance, such as chlorine, phosgene, or lewisite, used in warfare to kill or harm

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Etymology

Origin of poison gas

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Another unfounded allegation, that Thailand had dropped poison gas, was accompanied by an image of a water bomber dropping pink fire retardant.

From BBC

Over the course of the movie, he’s nearly murdered a half-dozen times by bullets, bombs, poison gas and a good old-fashioned clobbering.

From Los Angeles Times

In Ankara, Siegfried became co-director of a gas mask factory, a joint Turkish-German enterprise next door to a poison gas laboratory.

From Los Angeles Times

Auschwitz and the Holocaust didn't begin with poison gas.

From BBC

Before we walk into a room, we like to be fairly certain of what we’ll find — walls, floor, furniture, not hot coals or clouds of poison gas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mustard gas